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Straight Talk Plans & Customer Service Information

PROS
  • Large selection of phones available
  • Sold at Walmart, with Walmart exclusive deals
  • Variety of plans available for different types of devices
  • Family plan discounts
CONS
  • No true budget phone plans
  • Not known to have greatest customer support

Since 2013, I’ve been researching, reviewing, and writing about the wireless industry through BestMVNO with a focus on MVNOs.

In this guide, I will explain everything you need to know about Straight Talk before you subscribe. I’ll review each of their phone plans with you, and go over any gotchas that they might have. I want you to learn the ins and outs of Straight Talk so that you can make an informed decision on if this is the best place for you to spend your money.



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Straight Talk Phone Plans

Last Updated: Sep 26, 2024

Single Line Monthly Prepaid Plans

150 MB
$30/Mo
$360/Annually
  • 1500 Minutes
  • Unlimited Texts
10 GB
$35/Mo
$420/Annually
  • Unlimited Minutes
  • Unlimited Texts
  • Hotspot 5GB
Unlimited GB
$45/Mo
$540/Annually
  • Unlimited Minutes
  • Unlimited Texts
  • Hotspot 5GB
Unlimited GB
$54/Mo
$648/Annually
  • Unlimited Minutes
  • Unlimited Texts
  • Hotspot 15GB
Unlimited GB
$60/Mo
$720/Annually
  • Unlimited Minutes
  • Unlimited Texts
  • Hotspot 5GB
Unlimited GB
$65/Mo
$780/Annually
  • Unlimited Minutes
  • Unlimited Texts
  • Hotspot 20GB

Prepaid Family Plans

Unlimited GB
$90/Mo
$1080/Annually
  • Unlimited Minutes
  • Unlimited Texts
  • Hotspot 10GB
No items found
No items found
No items found

Data Only Plans

2 GB
$15/Mo
$180/Annually
  • ✓ Mobile Hotspot, Tablets
4 GB
$25/Mo
$300/Annually
  • ✓ Mobile Hotspot, Tablets
8 GB
$40/Mo
$480/Annually
  • ✓ Mobile Hotspot, Tablets
Unlimited GB
$45/Mo
$540/Annually
  • ✓ 5G Home Internet, Data Only SIM
10 GB
$50/Mo
$600/Annually
  • ✓ Mobile Hotspot, Tablets
20 GB
$75/Mo
$900/Annually
  • ✓ Mobile Hotspot, Tablets


Straight Talk Deals


Straight Talk $25/Month Unlimited Plan

Bring your number and phone to Straight Talk and get a truly unlimited data plan for $25/month. Plus, after 12 months get a $200 credit to purchase a new phone.



How Straight Talk Plans Work

Straight Talk Wireless was launched in 2009. It was one of several brands owned by Carlos Slim, founder of América Móvil, a Mexican telecommunications corporation. América Móvil was also the company behind TracFone and all of Tracfone’s associated brands which included Walmart Family Mobile, Total Wireless (now Total by Verizon), and Simple Mobile among others. Straight Talk is the largest of the brands with nearly 10 million subscribers.

In September of 2020, Verizon announced that it agreed to purchase Tracfone and all of its related brands from América Móvil for up to $6.9 billion. The deal formally closed in November of 2021.

Straight Talk’s Phone Plans Explained

The Straight Talk Wireless website exclaims “there’s a plan for everyone.” But due to their prices, I’m not sure they have a plan for everyone’s needs. There are certainly cheaper phone plans out on the market. Straight Talk does however have plans at different price points. There are 6 base phone plans, a special 2-line plan, and a buy more save more extended plan.

The absolute cheapest Straight Talk base phone plan costs $30/month. Customers on the plan get unlimited texts, 1500 minutes, and 100MB of hard capped data. That means data shuts off once a customer consumes 100MB of data in a billing cycle. Subscribers that enable auto-refill on their accounts get 50% more data, 150MB total, to use each month. Customers interested in this plan would be better served to take a hard look elsewhere as there are better values available.

Straight Talk’s other five base phone plans are priced as follows:

  • $35/month ($34 with auto-refill) – 10GB of high-speed data
  • $45/month ($44 with auto-refill) – *unlimited high-speed data, 5GB hotspot, SD video streaming limited to a resolution of 480p, calling to Mexico and Canada
  • $55/month – *unlimited high-speed data,15GB hotspot, SD video streaming, calling to Canada and Mexico, 100GB cloud storage
  • $60/month ($59 with auto-refill) – *unlimited high-speed data, international calling, 5GB hotspot
  • $65/month – *unlimited high-speed data, plus 20GB hotspot & 100GB cloud storage, Mobile protect device insurance, HD video streaming at a resolution of 720p, international calling

Family Plan Discount Option

Straight Talk Wireless does not offer true group discount family plans. However, a 2-line plan is available for $90/month. The 2-line plan comes with all the same features as Straight Talk’s single line $55 plan. It includes:

  • *unlimited high-speed data
  • 15GB hotspot per line
  • SD video streaming at a resolution of 480p
  • Calling to Canada and Mexico
  • 100GB of cloud storage per line

 

Extended Multi-Month Plan Option

Straight Talk’s $45 plan with unlimited high-speed data is also available as a multi-month discount plan. Customers can get 3-months of service for $130, 6-months for $255 or 12-months for $495. The 3-month plan offers a savings of $5 vs paying by the month. The 6-month plan offers a savings of $15 and the 12-month plan offers savings of $45.

Straight Talk Wireless Offers Multi-Month Plan Discounts
Straight Talk Wireless Offers Multi-Month Plan Discounts

What Plan Features Are Supported By Straight Talk Wireless

Straight Talk’s phone plans support a variety of features, but some features may be limited to specific plans. Depending on their plan, Straight Talk customers may have access to the following at no extra charge:

  • Mobile hotspot
  • Cloud storage – 100GB of cloud storage available to store all your files and photos, only available on the $55 and $65 plans
  • International calling – unlimited international calling included with $60 and $65 plan. Unlimited mobile to mobile to Mexico, China, Canada, and India plus calling to over 1000 landline destinations. Full list available here.
  • Unlimited slow data at 2G data speeds – applicable to $35 plan

Available Add-Ons

If you run out of high-speed data during a billing cycle, you can always add more. Straight Talk has two data add-ons available:

  • $5 – 1GB additional high-speed data
  • $10 – 2GB additional high-speed data

Unused add-on data does rollover to the next billing cycle.

A $10 international calling card option is also available. International calling rates are as low as 1¢ per minute.

Coverage

Straight Talk is owned by Verizon Wireless and thus provides cellular service through Verizon.

Data Speeds

In general, customers should expect data speeds on Straight Talk to be comparable to that of the underlying network’s. So if a subscriber has Straight Talk using Verizon’s network, data speeds will be similar to what they would be if the subscriber was a Verizon Wireless customer. Of course, there are exceptions to this.

Customers that live in an area where the underlying network is under constant duress will experience slower data speeds compared to if they were subscribed directly to the parent carrier network. As an example, a customer subscribed to Straight Talk using Verizon’s network may experience slower speeds during times of network congestion than they would if they had just subscribed to Verizon.

Straight Talk Also Sells Tablet Plans

Straight Talk Tablet Plans
Straight Talk Tablet Plans

If you have a tablet or hotspot, you can bring it to Straight Talk. The tablet must be compatible with Verizon’s network. There are 5 available tablet/hotspot plans, and they really aren’t cheap. Pricing starts at $15 for 2GB of data. The full list of data only tablet/hotspot plans is below.

  • $15 – 2GB data
  • $25 – 4GB data
  • $40 – 8GB data
  • $50 – 10GB data
  • $75 – 20GB data

The data only plans are good for 30-days of service.

Customer Rewards And Referral Program

Straight Talk offers its subscribers a referral and rewards program. Customers that refer friends can earn reward points. The reward points can then be used to purchase a phone plan or a new phone. The reward point system operates on a sliding scale. A subscriber that refers one friend earns 5,000 points for the referral. But if they refer 2-4 friends they earn 9,000 points per each referral. New customers that signup for Straight Talk through someone’s referral also earn rewards points.

Straight Talk Refer A Friend Program Details
Straight Talk Refer A Friend Program Details

Subscribers can also earn Straight Talk Rewards points just by renewing their plans. Points can also be earned by performing simple tasks such as playing games, answering surveys and more. The Rewards program also gives customers access to free perks and local discounts to save on dining, shopping, and entertainment.


Supported Phones And BYOD Devices

Straight Talk Wireless fully supports those that have their own device to bring to the network.  Verizon phones are all compatible as long as they are not under contract and have no financial obligations on them.  Universally unlocked phones from manufacturers such as Motorola and Samsung are also compatible with the network.

Straight Talk also sells all the latest high end phones such as iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices. A selection of mid range and budget phones are also available.

Phone Trade-In Program

Straight Talk Wireless does offer a phone trade-in program. If you are interested in getting cash for your old phone you can do that by visiting Straight Talk’s phone appraisal website. The handsets being traded-in must be in working condition. Customers that trade-in their phones will get paid by either check or PayPal.

Phone Payment Plan Options

There are two types of financing options available for customers who would like to pick up a phone from Straight Talk Wireless. There’s a financing program offered by Smartpay and one offered by Affirm. Smartpay is more of a lease-to-own program. Both financing options will require an application to be filled out.


Where To Buy Service Plans And SIM Cards

Plans, phones and SIM cards can be purchased through the Straight Talk Wireless website or from Walmart, an exclusive retail partner of Straight Talk.


Straight Talk Logo:
Straight Talk Wireless Logo

Year Founded: 2009
Subscribers: 9,511,000
Networks Used: Verizon
LTE Bands Used: 241366
5G Bands Used: n2 (1900MHz)n5(850MHz)n66(1700MHz/2100MHz)n77(3.7GHz)n261 (28GHz)n260 (39GHz)
Support For BYOD: Yes
Sells Phones: Yes
All Taxes And Fees Included In Price? No
Online Payment Options: Credit Cards, Debit Cards, PayPal, Refill Cards

Straight Talk Contact Information

Website:
Phone Number: 1-877-430-2355
Address/Headquarters:

Straight Talk, Inc
Attention: Executive Resolution Department
9700 NW 112th Avenue
Miami, FL 33178

Social Media Accounts
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
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Straight Talk Customer Reviews

2.2 6 votes
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1.8 6 votes
Customer Support
1.8 6 votes
Upload Speeds
3.3 6 votes
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Robert Struzinski
Robert Struzinski
3 months ago
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I have to warn anyone that is considering bringing a brand new unlocked device that is not branded to any carrier. This means it has no extra software loaded on it and can access all 3 major carriers in the USA.

Typically GSM for ATT and T-Mobile and WCDMA for Verizon. There’s bands and frequencies involved as posted on this site.

Checking compatibility on Straight Talks site and seeing it say it’s good to go and then has you buy a BYOP SIM for $4.95+tax. This SIM is needed to activate your device on their network, swapping an active SIM into your new device may temporarily activate it until ST sees it on their system and they will cut off service.

I did this a few times now and found my new unlocked device worked fine but service was cut and after talking with an agent I was told I need to get a SIM for it and have it activated.

1st time I did it over the phone right after Verizon took control. I received the SIM card and went to activate it but they wouldn’t do it. Telling me then it wasn’t compatible even though they told me it was.

Had me buy a new phone from them or use my old phone that I swapped the once working SIM from. The SIM still worked fine in my old phone. I was using that SIM in my unlocked phone for 3 months before they cut it off.

Fast forward to this month and I got another brand new unlocked device and used their on line compatibility checker and it passes so they take me to a BYOP SIM page. 3 days later it arrives and I have a plan ready to register.

I go through the process and it says I have a SIM mismatch? I try again and same thing. I try my second EMEI and dame thing. In chat the same issue. I ask why isn’t it activating? They tell me something about a different SIM, I ask so are you going to send the right one? Nope , they don’t have any. Are you out of them, nope, never had them.

So why are you telling me it’s compatible and have the only SIM available not work after I pay $5+? I demanded a refund since it’s their mistake. They refuse, they won’t let me talk to a manager and have no more to say. I have been going back and forth looking for an answer that makes sense since I had this happen 2 years ago. I contacted the BBB and they started calling me to figure this out. Only problem is each time I go through the same thing as nothing is done, they won’t activate it no matter what and refuse to refund me.

They’ve been doing this for years, collecting money and never activate any non branded devices. I’ve wasted 12 or more hours on the phone and numerous rechecks for compatibility just be certain.

I have only been giving them my 1st EMEI up to that point except for that 1 time. Both were still compatible. May complaint is they never should have said it was good and sold me the SIM if they had no intention of activating it.

Then after 14 days I check it and the 1st EMEI is now incompatible! So they are now changing it but strangely the 2nd is still good? So they blocked my 1st one. Then corporate sends me an email wanting me to take pictures of the EMEI numbers. One thing I forgot was they told me I could activate if I had an old PINK SIM called “B” that uses T-Mobile? Now I’m not a phone genius but I’m pretty sure Verizon dropped all other carriers when they took over and that’s why my old ATT SIM quit working in my last unlocked.

Here’s where it gets good, I find my baggie full of sims and find an old T-Mobile ST SIM it’s not pink but it’s T-Mobile. That didn’t work and then I sent them pictures of all the sims I have from them and my EMEI numbers as well as the receipt for the BYOP SIM they burned me on.

Next week I check it and now both EMEI s are not compatible! So I got a new SIM through TracFone, same exact thing owned now by Verizon as well. Checked compatibility and it passes, also checked compatibility in simple mobile and it passed their check. The TracFone SIM I identical to the ST SIM. Same exact model number and they are interchangable just matters who you active though.

So I just went to Total which is another Verizon carrier and it passed their check as well. I also passed T-Mobiles , Cricket, Boost, ATT, and every other service you can imagine . Basically every service you can find on Amazon and Walmarts site have all passed the check

So ST is commiting fraud they advertise one thing, pass it , sell you a SIM with no intention of activating it. To confirm that I’m not the only one I went to walmarts site and saw every single person who left a review had the exact same experience! Same story about the B sim and never got activation or a refund.

I bought from their site after it checked it so I can’t say how many others they have done this too, without being able to leave a review it’s impossible to know what they’re doing. I see sales on Walmart have stopped now that’s there is a long list of 1 star reviews. I’ll bet there would be thousands of 1 stars on their web site had it had any way to leave a rating.

I’m trying to get a class action started on this, they’ve made many thousands of this scam and they still claim they’ll activate any unlocked device that’s compatible.

Since Total, Walmart family and TracFone all use the same service there’s no reason that one can be compatible and not the other. I have checked the bands used and what my phone can use and I see no problem.

Only thing I can see is they are either trying to make money off phone sales or they don’t want you to find out that they have built in software it hardware based throttling that’s independent of their system speeds and actual congestion.

Either way they won’t activate any globally unlocked devices and they never will.

Pros
Cheap month to month
CONS
Advertise average 5G speeds at 34-149mbps I've never seen anything over 20mbps, I'm barely hitting their minimum average 4GLTE speeds of 6mbps. Average is 4mbps, they lie and won't activate any unlocked non branded devices
City/State (Optional) helpful to others
Peoria
Brand of Phone, Samsung, Motorola, Apple?
6026155348
john mc
john mc
1 year ago
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glitchy slow and they lied about everything

Pros
easy to set up if u are a techie
CONS
everything is slow and glitchy and they lied
City/State (Optional) helpful to others
florida
Brand of Phone, Samsung, Motorola, Apple?
moxie hot spot device abd 2 galaxy phones...
Robert Zinski
Robert Zinski
1 year ago
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Don’t fall for it I bought 3 months and after the 1st month my service went from 30 to 40mbs down to 7 to 8mbs as I just tested on Sunday at 9am used to be 40mbs or more at that time. I fully expect to see my service get even slower as I progress through the 3 monthd, then the week before it ends it will go back to normal in hopes that I’ll renew jt again. Not a chance, it’s just a way to trap you for 90 days and slow you’re service down knowing you’re not able to do a thing about it. You can just pay for another month and have fast service on another sim card and forget about those last 2 months of wasted money.

I only did it to get a free phone, not sure it was even worth it since I hate the phone. I know I’ll never prepay for more than 1 month at a time now that I see how underhanded Verizon is , I own stock in that company and it’s been losing value for the last 3 years steadily, how can a telecommunications company as big as Verizon be losing money in this day and age? If I wasn’t getting dividends from them I would have sold it years ago, they pay out a decent dividend but it’s been slightly reduced over the last 15 years.

It’s too bad that I can’t even recommend using a company that I own stock in, you’d think with all their sneaky stuff they pull and shady deals theyd be making tons of money unless thryre lying about their profits to screw over shareholders too! I honestly would not doubt it knowing how they operate.

City/State (Optional) helpful to others
Peoria
Brand of Phone, Samsung, Motorola, Apple?
Moto stylus 5g
Christine
Christine
1 year ago
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I am getting so many dropped calls just started 30 days ago now can’t get pass hello before I lose my signal and have to restart my phone HELP STRAIGHTTALK

City/State (Optional) helpful to others
Smithfield va
Brand of Phone, Samsung, Motorola, Apple?
Galaxy note 10
S Johnson
S Johnson
2 years ago
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I loved my Samsung J45 phone (Black Friday deal) and straighttalk service( great phone had for 8 years). In May of 2021 I purchased a new phone from straighttalk Samsung A50 online because I wanted a bigger screen. After work (15 miles away) it wont call home without restarting the phone. When I go out of town 400 miles away and try to call someone the call drops or tells me there’s no service. I use to recommend straighttalk, said I would never have anything else, said when everyone else’s phone wouldn’t work my was still working. Sadly that’s not the case anymore. Guess I’ll have to wait for the next supplier to come along.

Pros
Price
CONS
It only works in the area purchased
City/State (Optional) helpful to others
Silsbee
Brand of Phone, Samsung, Motorola, Apple?
Samsung A50